Bebop Spoken There

Ludovic Beier (Django Festival Allstars): ''Manouche means 'free man,' and gypsies have been travelers since they migrated west from India to Europe.'' (DownBeat March, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18383 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 247 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Mar. 17 ), 57

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

March

Mon 30: Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 30: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 31: Bede Trio @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. Albert Hills Wright (alto sax); Finn Carter (piano); Michael Dunlop (double bass).

April

Wed 01: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 01: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 01: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 02: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: Musicians playing classical & orchestral music.
Thu 02: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 21s only.
Thu 02: Renegade Brass Band @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 02: Shalala @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £7.00. adv..
Thu 02: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Jim Hall by Maurice Summerfield

Jim Hall has always been one of my favourite jazz musicians – right from when in 1957 I first bought his LP ‘Jazz Guitar – Jim Hall Trio’ with pianist Carl Perkins and Red Mitchell on bass. I also loved his particpation with various Chico Hamilton groups. Chico sadly of course also died a few days ago. I now have that historic LP recording on CD (Gambit 69259 and Avid AMSC1033) – and I still listen to it very, very often. I have dozens of Jim’s recordings as leader, in a duo with Bill Evans, with the Jimmy Giuffre Trio and in marvellous groups led by Paul Desmond, Art Farmer, Sonny Rollins and other jazz greats.  He was often referred to as the ‘Poet of Jazz Guitar’ – and this I believe he was. The epitome of musical taste – and a true innovator.
I was fortunate to spend a week with Jim at the 1989 Midnight Sun Guitar Festival in Ikaalinen, Finland. He was a man of deep intellect, quiet personality and good company. I just received a few weeks ago his new marvellous 3-CD set from his Artist Share Records company – ‘Jim Hall Live – Vols 2 - 4 Toronto 1975’. A wonderful testament to Jim’s genius. Jim Hall was truly a jazz giant..
Maurice Summerfield.
Photo:Maurice with Jim Hall in Ikaalinen, Finland June 1989.
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